Posts tagged Reins
Tomb Raider creator leading Crystal Dynamics team
Jun 19th
LinkedIn profile reveals Toby Gard has been named design lead on Lara Croft keeper’s upcoming unannounced project.
Crystal Dynamics has been relatively quiet since the release of Tomb Raider: Underworld in November, with the only new information regarding the studio being of the grim, headcount reduction variety. That changed earlier this week, however, when a job listing for a Senior Art Director surfaced in the California-based developer’s online database, touting the opportunity to work “on one of the most prestigious AAA franchises in the industry.”
Considering Crystal Dynamics’ recent history and Tomb Raider’s status as one of the most recognizable brands in the industry, the listing led many to believe that the studio was staffing up for a new Lara Croft-led action adventure. Lending more credence to that speculation, the creator of the buxom brunette herself has taken the reins as lead designer at Crystal Dynamics.
As spotted by enthusiast site Tomb Raider Forums, Toby Gard’s LinkedIn profile reveals that he was named as lead designer at Crystal Dynamics in January. Gard is best known for his work as a designer on the original Tomb Raider–released in 1996–and is credited with having created the Lara Croft character. According to a brief description of his responsibilities, Gard is currently “leading a design group for an unannounced project.”
Gard defiantly left Core Design in 1997 to form Confounding Factor after studio management requested a Tomb Raider sequel be turned around in less than 12 months. Confounding Factor shipped its only title, Galleon: Islands of Mystery, in 2004, after which Gard rejoined Eidos to contribute to Crystal Dynamics’ successful 2006 series reboot, Tomb Raider: Legend.
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Realtime Worlds issues APB on Gary Dale
Apr 27th
Former Take-Two COO takes reins as Crackdown dev’s new CEO; GTA creator Dave Jones transitions to creative director.
Today, Realtime Worlds announced that Gary Dale has been named as the company’s new chief executive officer, with Grand Theft Auto creator and studio cofounder Dave Jones assuming the role of creative director. Most recently, Dale served as Take-Two Interactive’s chief operating officer, a position he held for just five months before announcing his resignation in January 2009.
Dale’s journey to the top of RTW has an element of circularity to it. Previously, he served as president of the interactive software and video division of BMG Interactive, which published the Dave Jones-helmed original Grand Theft Auto. Take-Two bought the now-dormant publishing house in 1998.
After a stint serving as Capcom Europe’s managing director, Dale signed aboard Take-Two in January 2007, taking on the role of COO at the publisher’s subsidiary and current Grand Theft Auto franchise developer, Rockstar Games. By December 2007, Dale had moved up a rung on the corporate ladder, assuming the role of Take-Two executive vice president. Dale held that role until August, when he was appointed COO of the publisher.
Addressing Dale’s appointment, Jones said, “As RTW transitions from being a traditional developer to an online publisher I could not be happier that Gary will lead us through this exciting phase of our growth. His years of experience at companies such as Capcom and Take-Two will prove invaluable in ensuring we meet our goals of becoming a world leading next-generation online publisher.”
“My focus going forward will be on ensuring we continue to deliver quality innovative experiences as with our debut title, Crackdown,” Jones said of his own new position. Realtime Worlds is currently at work on APB, an urban-warfare massively multiplayer online game, which it plans to release for PCs this year.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
